Page 4
October 23, 2024
25 Years Of
Homeownership
Fairs
Photo Courtesy of African American Alliance for Homeownership
Continued from Front
bus will take 35 first time buyers
to 7-10 homes for sale within the
Portland Metro Area. Information
on first-time homebuyer programs
and the current market will be pro-
vided by AAAH, Kor Realty, and
Fairway Independent Mortgage
tour guides. The tour is FREE to
attend for the first 35 registered.
Organizers with the AAAH
hope those who take the first step
by attending the FREE fair will
continue to make progress towards
buying a home long after the fair.
To aid in this effort for those who
wish to Obtain, Maintain, Re-
tain, and Sustain homeownership
AAAH provides wrap around
services such as Deferred Main-
tenance/Home Repair/Water Leak
Programs, Estate Planning, and
our newest program to address the
adverse effects of climate change,
Power to the People PDX (P2P).
P2P is funded by the Portland
Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) and
NW Gas. Qualified homeowners
may receive electrical upgrades,
furnaces, water heaters, insula-
tion, and other upgrades to bring
their home up to efficient stan-
dards. These programs are FREE
to qualified applicants.
There will also be youth activ-
ities and great door prizes such
as wine tastings, a $25,000 down
payment grant and much more.
AAAH is a non-profit, HUD
Approved Housing Counseling
Agency that provides pre & post
purchase counseling, 8-hour HUD
certified homebuyer education,
mortgage default/loss mitigation
counseling, and limited financial
assistance for first-time home-
buyers and current homeowners.
AAAH’s services are FREE and
open to the public. AAAH is an
equal housing opportunity agency.
Honoring a Decade of Visionary
Leadership and Dedication
René
Mitchell to
Step Down
as Founding
Executive
Director
After co-founding and serv-
ing as a volunteer Executive
Director of Scalehouse for over
a decade, René Mitchell has an-
nounced she will be stepping
down from her role and passing
the torch to Marley Weedman
Lorish, who will assume the
position of Executive Direc-
tor starting in January 2025.
Mitchell’s visionary leader-
ship has been instrumental in
transforming Scalehouse into a
thriving contemporary arts cen-
ter, known for its commitment
to fostering artistic expression,
broadening equitable access to
the arts, and advancing cultural
engagement throughout Bend.
Mitchell, alongside co-found-
ers Patricia Clark, Sandy An-
derson, and Alex Anderson, laid
the groundwork for Scalehouse
during the organization’s early
brainstorming sessions in 2011.
Together, they envisioned a
space that would go beyond art
exhibitions, creating a platform
where diverse voices, creative
thinkers, and community mem-
bers could gather to explore
and address pressing social and
cultural issues. Founding Board
Members who joined this ef-
fort include Cristy Lanfri, Dave
Fox, and Elizabeth Quinn.
"René has been an integral
part of Scalehouse’s growth
and success, leading the com-
munity’s only contemporary art
center organization," said Mar-
We are
Open!
3901 N. Mississippi Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
P: 503.281.0453
Fax 503.281.3408
Web:
www.sunlanlighting.com
E-mail:
kay@sunlanlighting.com
Rene Mitchell and Marley Weedman Lorish
tha Murray, Scalehouse’s Board the Executive Director position.
Member and Co-Producer of Lorish is a fourth-generation
Bend Design. "Her leadership Central Oregonian and inducted
has ensured that Scalehouse re- member of Phi Beta Kappa. Lor-
mains a place where art and de- ish is an interdisciplinary artist
sign are not just displayed but with an interest in the intersec-
actively contribute to looking at tion of art and social health. She
served as a college ambassador
the challenges of our time."
Under Mitchell’s leadership, with Planned Parenthood Colum-
Scalehouse launched numerous bia Willamette, and co-authored
impactful programs. "Scale- the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
house arrived at a pivotal mo- and Justice glossary for Central
ment in my life, offering me Oregon Health Council. She is
the space to both discover and trained in creating queer inclusive
lose myself. It has been one of arts learning spaces for youth.
“Having grown up in Bend,
the greatest honors of my life to
collaborate with such talented I have witnessed remarkable
and passionate artists, creative growth in access to arts and
thinkers, volunteers, non-profit cultural spaces. Scalehouse
partners, and donors to create a represents this growth and has
container where we can exhibit, offered a space for people to
engage, and grow together as a celebrate creativity in Central
community,” said Mitchell. “I Oregon. Places like Scalehouse
am so looking forward to see- serve as a reminder to creative
ing where the ever-so talented people of all ages that our role
Marley takes this dynamic and as artists and art appreciators is
impactful organization with her important to the wellness of our
leadership and new ideas,” add- communities; arts spaces don’t
only enrich our local economy,
ed Mitchell.
Marley Weedman Lorish start- they offer us an opportunity to
ed as a volunteer at Scalehouse in connect with each other by en-
2020 and has been the Operations couraging conversations and
and Programming Manager since consideration of ideas. By slow-
Fall 2023 and will transition to ing down to view and talk about
what we see (art) in a neutral
space like a gallery, we are able
to develop skills which enrich
our everyday lives, making us
better observers, listeners, and
neighbors. It is my great honor
to continue Scalehouse’s mis-
sion of making contemporary
art accessible in the area. “
René’s departure marks a
new chapter for Scalehouse, and
we look forward to continuing
to build on the foundation she
helped create," said Sandy An-
derson, Founding Board Mem-
ber and Co-founder.
For more information about
Scalehouse, upcoming pro-
grams, and future leadership
updates, please visit www.
scalehouse.org.